I was 19, sitting on my girlfriend’s bed, when my nose suddenly started bleeding like crazy.

It had never happened before, but I knew exactly why. I had been taking steroids.

At the time, I was working at a gym. I was in good shape, but when I looked at the bodybuilders around me, I wanted more.

They looked incredible. When they invited me to train with them, they eventually let me in on their secret — and offered me some.

I started a cycle.

They told me how to ramp up and taper down. At first, the results were shocking.

My strength exploded. I remember pressing 130 pounds in each hand overhead — and it wasn’t even hard. My body grew so fast I hid under sweatshirts so people wouldn’t ask questions.

Everything looked great on the outside. But inside, I knew better.

Whenever you take shortcuts, there’s always a price.

That nosebleed was my wake-up call. I stopped immediately, threw the pills away, and walked away lucky.

But here’s what really troubles me:

What if I hadn’t had that warning sign?

What if there had been no nosebleed to stop me?

How long would I have continued down that path?

I’ve been blessed with wisdom and discernment, mostly because I come from a family torn apart by addictions, unhealthy relationships, and absentee fathers.

I was the youngest, and I learned a lot by watching.

That’s why I share this. I don’t know what shortcut you might be leaning on — maybe it’s a GLP-1 weight loss drug, surgeries, prescription painkillers, or even legal drugs like antidepressants or anti-anxiety meds.

I can’t pretend to know all their consequences. But here’s what I do know: every shortcut comes with a cost. And usually, the bill shows up later.

I saw it with the bodybuilders.

Body aches, mental problems, and most of them didn’t stay in shape consistently.

One woman I used to see on stage was overweight the last time I saw her, ten years later.

Shortcuts don’t last — discipline does.

And that’s the lesson life has taught me over and over:

To live slowly and mindfully.

To learn the lessons needed to keep the results you’ve earned.

To work hard, sometimes fail, and try again.

Because when the shortcuts run out — and they always do — what’s left is you.

Your discipline. Your steadiness. Your willingness to keep showing up.

You don’t have to look far to see this play out.

Look at The Rock right now. He looks like a different man, and people are talking — not in a positive way.

Whether he admits it or not, that’s the cost of shortcuts. The problem isn’t just the health damage. It’s the burden of living a lie.

And it’s not just men and muscles.

Women face the same trap. Fillers, Botox, implants, Ozempic, you name it. (I ran into a woman who got butt implants and couldn't sit down for over a month!)

We’ve become a society that can’t stand imperfections.

The message is everywhere: Who you are isn’t good enough. Change yourself.

But here’s the truth I’ve learned: those external changes don’t make us happy.

They can give temporary relief, but they always come with consequences.

The real transformation happens when you work from the inside out.

When you build healthy habits.
When you develop discipline.
When you feed your soul with meaning, connection, and love.

That’s when the outside naturally falls into place.

I’ve seen clients stop overeating and break unhealthy cycles — not because they found the perfect drug or shortcut, but because they healed what was going on inside.

So here’s my challenge to you:

Don’t sell yourself short with shortcuts.

Don’t trade your long-term health for a temporary fix. Don’t live a lie.

Build something real. Build something you can keep.

Much love,

Bert

 

Here was a picture of me when I had gained over 40lbs of muscle.